Reporting on Religious Controversies (speech full text)

E.S. Isaac presented this paper at the conference “Reporting Religious Controversies” on Sept. 8, 2007 in New Delhi, India.

Journalists have a challenging job while reporting controversies.
They need to raise questions, to generate doubts and probe the soft and
vulnerable spots of a news story.

When it comes to reporting religious controversies, they need to
subject the story to a variety of tests, so that honesty and accuracy
can withstand falsehood, exaggeration and minimize harm.

The followings ten tests would help in making an excellent report on religious controversies.

1. The Intention Test: This test seeks to determine whether
it was the stated or implied intention of the news source to accurately
convey the news. In order to establish the right intention, the news
source needs to be properly investigated for accuracy. It should be
well supported by witnesses or other sources.

2. The Ability Test: Even if the right intention of the news
source is reliable, how can a journalist be sure that the accuracy of
news has not been tempered by the inability of the source? The ability
test will lead to an integrated news story.

3. The Character Test: This test looks at whether it was in
the character of the news source to be truthful. Was there any evidence
of dishonesty or immorality that might taint their ability or
willingness to be accurate?

4. The Consistency Test: Many times different versions of
news appear to be hopelessly contradictory with each other. In the case
of religious controversies, the diversity in points of view may lead to
irreconcilable discrepancies. Controversies may also lead to
contradictions. But if properly observed and practiced, the consistency
test will hold the controversies together.

5. The Bias Test: This test analyses whether the news source
had any biases that would have colored their points of view. Did they
have any vested interest in skewing the material or the incident? Bias
could also be due to attitudinal perspective.

6. The Cover-up Test: When people testify about events they
saw, they often try to protect themselves or others by conveniently
forgetting to mention details that are embarrassing or hard to explain.
As a result, this raises uncertainty about the veracity of their entire
testimony. The cover-up test helps in cleaning up the smoke without
demeaning the sources.

7. The Corroboration Test: When the sources mention people,
places and events, do they check out to be correct if independently
verified? Often such corroboration is invaluable in assessing whether a
source has a commitment to accuracy. Corroboration adds integrity and
accuracy to the story.

8. The Adverse Witness Test: This test asks the question:
Were others present who would have contradicted or corrected the story
if it had been distorted or false? In other words, a reporter may come
across examples of others present at the venue complaining that the
accounts were wrong. The adverse witness test is actually a safety
valve for reporting religious controversies.

9. The After Effect Test: While reporting religious
controversies, a journalist must also imagine the effect of publishing
such a story among its readers. If it could cause more harm than public
good, then it could be pushed into inside pages.

10. The Fraternity Test: In all reporting, more especially,
while reporting, the end in view should be to uphold human fraternity —
the universal brotherhood and sisterhood, which should never be
forgotten.